Top 6 Movies of 2015

It was a great year to head out to the local theater, pick up a tub of popcorn and a 44-ounce Cherry Coke to wash is down with, and enjoy one of the many blockbusters to hit the silver screen. Here is a list of my top 6 movies for 2015. Why 6? Because Star Wars is all but a shoe-in for the top spot and expanding the list a slot to account for that seemed like the right thing to do.

When it comes to anime, nothing compares to the Dragon Ball Z and Naruto series. Sadly, since I am behind on Naruto Shippuden, I was unable to check out the feature film, Boruto: Naruto The Movie. I did, however, get my hands on Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ and it did not disappoint. Resurrection ‘F’ had the action and humor DBZ is known for and I still chuckle when I think about Vegeta calling Goku a glory hog. Freeza, being one of my favorite villains, was another one of the many reasons this made my list of top movies for 2015.

Jurassic World is the sequel the original Jurassic Park always deserved. Chris Pratt delivered yeat another performance as a likeable character this time as Owen Grady and the film felt fresh, exciting and just as dangerous as the original. Let’s just hope they can keep the same adventurous momentum going for the next Jurassic movie.

Of all the actors to take the 007 code name, Daniel Craig is probably my favorite. Skyfall director Sam Mendes returns for Spectre, the latest movie in the James Bond franchise, and kicks things off with a very nostalgic, classic-007 opening sequence that set the tone for the rest of the movie. Add to that one of my all time favorite Bond villains Ernst Stavro Blofeld, played by Christoph Waltz, and you easily have a film worthy of recognition.

I admit that when I first saw Age Of Ultron I was entertained, but I felt the movie lacked some of the excitement of the original Avengers. I equate it to seeing the same magic trick performed for the second time. To be fair, it’s difficult for a sequel to match the magical formula of an original, but at the end of the day Age Of Ultron is still an action packed, comedic, and entertaining 141 minutes of Marvel bliss.

You would think that after over eight years hits, Marvel Studios would put it in cinematic cruise control, relax at the wheel, and slip up. Nope. Ant-Man not only stands on its own as a fresh new addition to the Marvel cinematic universe, but it just might give Guardians of the Galaxy a run for its money when it comes to humor. I suspect Paul Rudd is going to have a job in the Marvel cinematic universe for quite some time. Welcome to the Avengers, Ant-Man.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Critics have pointed out that The Force Awakens felt more like a reboot of A New Hope than an original story, but the reality is all of the Star Wars movies are flawed in some way, with the possible exception of The Empire Strikes Back. A New Hope lacks polish, Return of the Jedi has Ewoks, and people didn’t care for the prequel trilogy because it was unlike the Star Wars they remembered in the original trilogy. The thing is, The Force Awakens is a return to that original trilogy magic. The film leaves us with mystery, questions and cliffhangers that I personally haven’t felt since The Empire Strikes Back. If you’re like me and love Star Wars, it’s hard to complain when you get the relive that original trilogy feeling and see Harrison Ford play Han Solo one more time. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is, hands down, my personal favorite movie of the year.

* Note: Being a fan of Quentin Tarantino’s work, I can’t help but wonder if The Hateful Eight, which I have yet to see, would have made it on my list.